Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Extent of Boston Celtics Star Kristaps Porzingis’ Troubling Injury, Revealed

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Paolo Songco | Last updated 4/30/24

The Boston Celtics are in trouble. They may have won Game 4 against the Miami Heat on Monday to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, but they also lost starting center Kristaps Porzingis due to injury.

The extent of the 28-year-old’s injury has now been revealed, and it’s not looking good for the Celtics right about now.

Boston Celtics News: Kristaps Porzingis Diagnosed With Soleus Strain

NBA insider Tim Bontemps of ESPN reported on Tuesday that Porzingis has suffered a calf strain:

The Celtics say Kristaps Porzingis is out with a soleus strain — the same injury Giannis Antetokounmpo has missed the entire Bucks-Pacers series so far with.

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) April 30, 2024

As the report indicates, this is the exact same injury that has kept Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo out for their entire first-round series against the Indiana Pacers. The Bucks are facing a 3-1 deficit ahead of Tuesday’s Game 5 showdown, and the former back-to-back is still a doubt to play for what could be Milwaukee’s final game of the season.

ESPN’s NBA guru Adrian Wojnarowski then followed up his colleague’s report by stating that Porzinigis is now expected to miss “several games” because of the injury:

Celtics C Kristaps Porzingis is expected to miss a minimum of several games with the right soleus strain, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/9qW4iR04jO

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 30, 2024

This is far from the good news Celtics fans were hoping for. At this point, it sounds like Porzingis is set to miss the remainder of the Heat series, which resumes on Wednesday for Game 5.

Boston is considered the favorite to progress to the second round, especially now that they’re up 3-1 against a Jimmy Butler-less Miami side. Should they succeed in defeating the Heat, the Celtics will face the winner of the Cleveland Cavaliers-Orlando Magic series.

That No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup is currently tied 2-2, and the Celtics will be hoping that that series extends to seven games so as to give Porzingis enough time to heal. However, as of right now, there is no guarantee that he will be able to return in the second round.